SAM Allardyce bemoaned his team's poor finishing after seeing his much-changed Bolton side play out a 1-1 FA Cup draw with Sunderland.

The Trotters took the lead through Michael Ricketts and should have been home and hosed by half time as Ricketts and Delroy Facey wasted a hatful of chances.

But Kevin Phillips struck in the second half to force a replay that neither manager probably wants.

éWe had enough chances to have put the game beyond Sunderland and didnét do it so it had to be down to poor finishing," Allardyce said.

'Could have had a hat-trick'

éWe should have had the tie done and dusted by half time. Michael scored again, and it is good to see that chances are coming to him, but he could have scored a hat-trick.

éWe paid the penalty when they equalised and could have lost the game late on when Anthony Barness made his only slip. But Nicky Hunt made a magnificent recovery to stop Phillips.

éThe game wasnét a classic which you wouldnét have expected in view of the number of changes made by each side.é

Allardyce added: éBoth sides could have done without the extra game in view of our battles at the bottom of the Premiership but at least the replay will give our fringe players another chance of a game.

éAnd with it coming in ten days time, it may give me the opportunity to hand Bruno NéGotty, Paul Warhurst and Bernard Mendy the chance to come back into the fray after injury.

éThey may be able to get a game before coming back into Premiership action so that would be a plus point for drawing this match.é

Another big plus for Allardyce was the contribution of youngsters Danny Livesey, Hunt and, in particular, Jeff Smith after giving them a rare run in the big time.

Youngsters shone

Salford kid Livesey did well against Flo before being replaced by Mike Whitlow as Allardyce looked to get more experience into his backline.

Hunt, of Westhoughton, did well in an unaccustomed role on the wide right whilst Middlesborough born Smith had a day to remember against the club who turned him down as a youngster.

He took the man of the match rating for his non-stop effort with Allardyce adding: éJeff did really well at wing back, both with the amount of crosses he got in and the ground he covered. Heés got unbelieveable energy, but all three of them did well.

"It was an open game towards the end because neither side wanted a replay but we should have done it by then.é